Markus Babbel hopes for Bayern’s advancement in the Champions League, and not solely due to his past with FCB. The former national player is rooting for his old club, Bayern Munich, in their Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid, partly because he isn’t a fan of the prestigious Spanish club.
In a talk show, the 1996 European champion stated: «Real is one of the most unsympathetic clubs in Europe, and it would be wonderful if Bayern were to advance.» This statement was met with considerable applause from the audience. The discussion also touched upon Real Madrid’s alleged boycott of the 2024 Ballon d’Or following Vinicius Junior’s second-place finish.
Bayern and Real will face each other for the first leg this Tuesday evening at the Bernabéu. The return match will take place eight days later at the Allianz Arena.
Ahead of the Duel with FC Bayern: «Unexpected Setback» for Real Madrid
Despite Bayern’s recent boost in confidence after overturning a 0-2 deficit to win 3-2 against Freiburg on Saturday, while Real simultaneously lost 1-2 to Mallorca, Babbel sees no clear favorite: «Due to Real’s individual class, it’s an even match.» The victory in Freiburg merely means «you go into the game with a good feeling,» Babbel added. His former teammate Stefan Effenberg also assessed the chances in the pairing as «50/50.»
In Spain, however, there is a sense of alarm. The defeat in Mallorca was not only a failed dress rehearsal for the Bayern match but also a significant setback in the race for the Spanish championship. Spanish media reacted strongly to the defeat; one newspaper described the situation as a «crossroad» for Real, while another characterized their play as a «capitulation,» suggesting the title had been «given away» to FC Barcelona, who are now seven points ahead.
It was another setback for a team that has shown significant inconsistency in their domestic league this season. However, the focus of the success-accustomed Madrid players seems to be primarily on the European Cup. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa left no doubt about this.
«I expect them to give their best in the Champions League, in a competition of the utmost importance. When they leave the changing room, they should only be thinking about Bayern,» Arbeloa advised his players: «I know what my players are capable of and that they understand the significance of Tuesday’s match.»
In the Champions League, the record winners’ offense, featuring star players like Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior, has recently demonstrated its class. They defeated Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 3-0 and 2-1 in the round of 16.
Real Madrid’s Record Transfers:
| Player | Position | Signed From | Year | Transfer Fee |
| Jude Bellingham | Midfield | Borussia Dortmund | 2023 | 127 Million Euros |
| Eden Hazard | Midfield | FC Chelsea | 2019 | 120.8 Million Euros |
| Gareth Bale | Forward | Tottenham Hotspur | 2013 | 101 Million Euros |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Forward | Manchester United | 2009 | 94 Million Euros |
| Aurelien Tchouameni | Midfield | AS Monaco | 2022 | 80 Million Euros |
| Zinedine Zidane | Midfield | Juventus | 2001 | 77.5 Million Euros |
| James Rodriguez | Midfield | AS Monaco | 2014 | 75 Million Euros |
| Kaka | Midfield | AC Milan | 2009 | 67 Million Euros |
| Luka Jovic | Forward | Eintracht Frankfurt | 2019 | 63 Million Euros |
| Dean Huijsen | Defence | AFC Bournemouth | 2024 | 62.5 Million Euros |